Kawa'a

imisscoffee-- thank you for your help. So you think I should quickly review all these things and move on to the positive outcome? It's hard to see oneself, but it feels like whining to list everything. I don't want to come off as I think I'm the only one or that I had it so much harder than everyone else. Thanks again!

I'm interested in applying to Berkeley as well (MPP and/or MPH). I'm not ready to apply yet (just started a new job and I'm waiting another year), but I'm still organizing myself. I've always been a little confused about how to approach diversity statements. My background is different, to say the least, and one that I've learned to not discuss for one reason or another (mostly people get uncomfortable and I don't really feel like sharing). So it feels really awkward and I'm afraid I will come off as whiny or over-the-top. But if I'm honest, many of these experiences have colored my outlook and perspectives on people and institutions. So, it's not irrelevant, either. I've listed some facts about myself and my background. Any thoughts on what to include/not include: 1. Multi-racial (Native Hawaiian, Japanese, Irish). 2. First generation US citizen on father's side (my dad is from Japan and ESL, but very fluent by the time I was born), second generation on mom's (granddad is Canadian, the rest from Ireland). 3. First generation college grad 4. Until I was ten, I lived in a gang infested barrio in San Diego where bullets literally went through our bedrooms and other distressing things occurred, but my parents also sent me to a parochial school that was completely white (yes, I was ostracized and called a "chink" most days) and very affluent. Those kids weren't allowed to come to my home because the neighborhood scared their parents. 5. For 6 years, I was an administrator of an alternative learning center for at-risk high-school kids: 95% represented ethnic minorities and 80% qualified for free or reduced lunch. 6. Pretty steady volunteer record since 1995, mostly working with youth who are underrepresented and/or struggling academically. I'm happy to include the last two items, as they seem relevant. The only reason I would want to include the others is to paint an accurate picture of my motivations. I overcame much more (it's too depressing to mention) than I listed to just survive an unreasonable first 20 years and the last ten trying to recover from it and create my own normal. In all of it, I've come to believe that being nice and doing what you can for others is really important, at least for what I want to do in life. I've seen so many people struggle and sometimes the only thing reaching out to them at all is some kind of government or church program. And since I don't want to be a nun, I've chosen a career in government. So what do I include without sounding like a nut or super whiny?

When I was fifteen I started attending college part-time locally while I finished high school. My GPA for the first 50 or so units I completed is not terrible, but it's not great either (around 3.1). It certainly reflects that I was challenging myself and gaining ground as I went. My grades in my junior and senior years at a university are much better. My GPA for my last 35 units is a 4.0. Those first couple of years bring my overall GPA down, of course (overall 3.45). Do you think my situation would be taken into account? How do I share this? Where in the application is best? After graduation, I completed about 12 units (lower division Lit. and French lang. mostly) just for some fun, but my GPA remained a 4.0. Does that help me at all? Will they want these transcripts too? Thank you for any of your insights!

Yes, my questions are pretty specific and so I'm not surprised to not hear back, but I'm happy to hear from you, KidA123, anyhow. I can tell you that tuition remission is for all full-time staff employees regardless of which department you are with. However, not all programs qualify. Most self-sustaining programs do not qualify. Also, tuition remission is transferable to other UCs. So you can work at Davis and attend Berkeley, for example. And then there's the question of working full-time and attending your program full-time...just kind of depends on your particular situation. Hope that helps and good luck!

Sorry if I posted this in the wrong area...my question is maybe oddly specific. I'm a full-time employee at a UC and one of my benefits is tuition remission (2/3 for most programs). I like the work I do and do not want to quit to go grad school or change careers. I have no interest in being a nurse, doctor, or pharmacist, which is the bulk of programs at the institution I work for. That leaves one MS program and one Ph.D. program...both of which require full time attendance. I could possibly go to Berkeley, which is far (travel-time wise)...but maybe do-able. Has anyone been in this situation where they were a university employee and you utilized the tuition remission benefit? Did you find a program that allowed you to be enrolled part-time? I'd be interested in studying Public Health, Public Administration, Public Policy, or Health Sciences/History. I found a MPH program at Berkeley, which is a hybrid on campus/online program. I noticed any type of program with an online aspect at the UCs is not well advertised. Does anyone know of any other good UC programs with online components, especially in the Bay Area? I would not want to complete a program solely online, but if there were some basics handled that way, I'd be open to it. Sorry for all the questions, but I'm at the beginning stages and just mulling it over. Any help is very appreciated!

While researching MPA programs, I came across a program in Conflict Resolution/Negotiation/Peace Building. I thought it was really interesting, but I don't know much about getting an MA in Conflict Resolution. Any thoughts? Would it be applicable to general management (there's always conflict, right?)? How are these degrees viewed by employers? Thanks.

Thanks everybody for your feedback. It is very helpful. I do care very much about the quality of the program I attend. However, I am trying my best to keep my ego in check and instead focus on what should really matter to me. Your insights have served as a good barometer.

This may seem like a weird post, but I'll try to explain myself as best as I can. First off, I do care about the quality of the program I attend. I do want to learn as much as I can. However, my question pertains to getting jobs only. I am currently a state employee and administrative manager. I manage the project and all the things that come with it-- people, contracts, federal/state grants, etc. I'm a mid-manager essentially. I'm happy with my job and the level of my job. I don't really want any more responsibility, clout, money, etc. I want to earn an MPA to learn, gain more job security, and be a bit more competitive in the job market. I do not want to be a high-level government employee, I do not want to work in policy, nor do I want to work in the federal government. Basically I want to keep doing what I'm doing with a bit more knowledge and credentials. Also I work with Ph.D.s all day long and I would feel better if I had more than a BA, which is probably insecure and ridiculous, but I'm being honest. I know that in the environment I work a masters from any decent institution would be sufficient. So, at the end of the day does it really matter what program I graduate from? I can see that many people on this board want to work in public policy or higher levels of government and therefore it makes sense that they attend a more competitive program, but does this really apply to me? Or am I missing something?

I speak French pretty well, but I am not fluent. I'm at the point where I need to live a French-speaking country for a while to become fluent. I didn't realize that a foreign language could help you out for a domestic program. That's really interesting. I would assume that some languages are more valuable than others. For example, I speak some Hawaiian as well, but how would this be helpful even in Hawai'i? In the Sf area there are a lot of people who speak Asian languages, but there is also a French population. Actually I hear French quite a bit when I'm out and about, but maybe that's because my ear is tuned to it.

Thanks everyone for your input. I think you all make good points. I am very uncomfortable with bringing up any of this up for multiple reasons, but yes, some of those experiences have informed my intellectual interests. If I can find a detached way of saying that then it would make sense to include it. I guess the point I am comfortable with making is that I have a diverse background and it has helped me see different perspectives and I would like to advocate for as many as possible within a community. I really appreciate your help. I'm usually pretty positive so it just felt like whining to bring it up, but I guess there is a cogent reason and if it can help communicate what I want to do and why to the adcom then it may be worth it to briefly mention it.

Thanks ScreamingHairyArmadillo. I would like to avoid mentioning any of this kind of stuff, but others have recommended that I mention it because I'm interested in Public Administration at the state/city gov't. level to help build better-functioning communities. Sure, some of this interest comes from personal experience, but I'd rather focus on the work I've done more recently. There are programs I'm interested in that require the diversity statement in addition. I guess I could mention some of these things here, but even then I'm hesitant to do so. Am I being to shy about this?

I'm a little confused about mentioning personal challenges in my SOP. Do Adcoms really want to know about challenges from my past? Why would they? My background is perhaps a-typical, but what does that have to do with grad school? I'm not even sure what constitutes a "challenge." Maybe these are challenges they're looking for: neither of my parents are college-educated (one of my grandfathers was illiterate and an immigrant), my father immigrated here from Japan, I grew up in a barrio where there were gangs and shootings (yes, bullets in our house), I'm multi-racial and my parents worked hard to put me in a parochial school...where everyone else was white and reminded me constantly that I wasn't (hilariously I've been called a "chink" more times than I've been called a "jap" ), and well, I could go on, but that's all I'm willing to share. It gets too sad from there. So, honestly, I'm just confused about whether they really want to know these things, why, and how I would even mention it. I had challenges (who doesn't?), I got through it due to my hard work and things completely outside of myself (luck, family, moving, etc.) and now I want to go to grad school. It seems like a waste of words when oftentimes so few are allowed. Is this more of a diversity statement kind of thing?

I see...thanks for your insights. I was just curious really. I would feel very uncomfortable about being accepted anywhere if I thought I got in for any reason other than my merits. I suppose there are plenty of things that are somewhat of a mystery behind the admissions door...

Thanks for your insights, pea-jay. My curiosity stems from the fact that this list seems particularly interested in Native Hawaiians. This is there complete list and yet there are many permutations of other peoples not listed. My question is why this seeming interest in Native Hawaiians? As a multi-racial person it's refreshing to see my ethnicity listed as an option, but it is also shocking. I'm glad most organizations have realized that grouping Asian and Pacific Islander is not only inaccurate, but offensive. If you don't mind my asking, why will you not comment on university race preferences? Is it simply that you haven't head anything? I'm just curious about their practices...

I was reading a post that mentioned race as one possible factor in the admissions decision, which got me thinking...do MPA/MPP programs look for minority applicants? When I was an undergrad, I remember that universities were looking for minority applicants, except Asians as they had enough (these are huge generalizations of things I read at the time). If true, that would not have helped me as Asian was lumped with Pacific Islander at the time (not as much these days). Anyhow, is minority status a factor in admissions decisions? On a tangential note, I noticed that CUNY John Jay College has tons of different permutations of Native Hawaiian listed as an ethnicity option. I never seen anything like it. As a Native Hawaiian, it has me super curious...anyone happen to know what this is about? I copied the exhaustive list below: Asian A American Indian/Native Hawaiian IC Asian/Black/Native Hawaiian/White AA American Indian/White ID Asian/Black AB American Indian/Asian/Black IE Asian/Native Hawaiian AC American Indian/Asian/Native Hawaiian IF Asian/White AD American Indian/Asian/White IG Asian/Black/Native Hawaiian AE American Indian/Asian/Black/Native Hawaiian IH Asian/Black/White AF American Indian/Asian/Black/White II Asian/Native Hawaiian/White AG American Indian/Black/Native Hawaiian IJ Black B American Indian/Black/White IK Black/Native Hawaiian/White BA American Indian/Asian/Black/Native Hawaiian/White IL Black/Native Hawaiian BB American Indian/Black/Native Hawaiian/White IM Black/White BC American Indian/Native Hawaiian/White IN Hispanic H Native Hawaiian N Hispanic/American Indian/Asian/Black/Hawaiian/White HA Native Hawaiian/White NA Hispanic/American Indian HB Not Hispanic T Hispanic/Asian HC Not Hispanic/American Indian/Asian/Black/Hawaiian/White TA Hispanic/Black HD Not Hispanic/Black TB Hispanic/Native Hawaiian HE Not Hispanic/American Inidan TC Hispanic/White HF Not Hispanic/Asian TD Hispanic/American Indian/Asian HG Not Hispanic/Native Hawaiian TE Hispanic/American Indian/Black HH Not Hispanic/White TF Hispanic/American Indian/Native Hawaiian HI Not Hispanic/American Indian/Asian TG Hispanic/American Indian/White HJ Not Hispanic/American Indian/Black TH Hispanic/American Indian/Asian/Black HK Not Hispanic/American Indian/Native Hawaiian TI Hispanic/American Indian/Asian/Native Hawaiian HL Not Hispanic/American Indian/White TJ Hispanic/American Indian/Asian/White HM Not Hispanic/American Indian/Asian/Black TK Hispanic/American Indian/Black/Native Hawaiian HN Not Hispanic/American Indian/Asian/Native Hawaiian TL Hispanic/American Indian/Black/White HO Not Hispanic/American Indian/Asian/White TM Hispanic/Asian/Black HP Not Hispanic/American Indian/Asian/Black/Hawaiian TN Hispanic/Asian/Black/Native Hawaiian HQ Not Hispanic/American Indian/Black/Hawaiian/White TO Hispanic/Asian/Black/White HR Not Hispanic/American Indian/Black/Native Hawaiian TP Hispanic/Black/Native Hawaiian HS Not Hispanic/American Indian/Black/White TQ Hispanic/Black/White HT Not Hispanic/American Indian/Native Hawaiian/White TR Hispanic/Native Hawaiian/White HU Not Hispanic/Black/Native Hawaiian/White TS Hispanic/Asian/Native Hawaiian HV Not Hispanic/Black/Native Hawaiian TT Hispanic/Asian/White HW Not Hispanic/Black/White TU Hispanic/Black/Native Hawaiian/White HX Not Hispanic/Native Hawaiian/White TV Hispanic/American Indian/Asian/Black/Native Hawaiian HY Not Hispanic/Asian/White TW Hispanic/American Indian/Asian/Black/White HZ Not Hispanic/Asian/Black TX Hispanic/Asian/Black/Hawaiian/White H0 Not Hispanic/Asian/Black/Native Hawaiian/White TY Hispanic/Asian/Native Hawaiian/White H1 Not Hispanic/Asian/Black/Native Hawaiian TZ Hispanic/American Indian/Native Hawaiian/White H2 Not Hispanic/Black/Native Hawaiian/White T0 Hispanic/American Indian/Black/Native Hawaiian/White H3 Not Hispanic/American Indian/Asian/Black/White T1 Hispanic/American Indian/Asian/Native Hawaiian/White H4 Not Hispanic/Asian/Black/White T2 American Indian I Not Hispanic/American Indian/Asian/Hawaiian/White T3 American Indian/Asian IA Not Hispanic/Asian/Hawaiian/White T4 American Indian/Black IB White W

Thanks fadeindreams. It will be 69 units then.

I'm trying to figure out my Jr. & Sr. Year GPA, but there are so many variables that I'm driving myself crazy. Does anyone know the standard rule for this? I obtained credit for AP courses so the semester in which I obtained 60 units was not 60 graded units. Do I discount the AP credits and move on to the next semester when I obtained 60 graded units? Do I count undergraduate courses I took after I graduated? Or only courses that were used for my BA? I can't really just go with the last 60 units because if I count backwards I end up in the middle of a semester...and what courses would one randomly choose to include in that case? See? I'm driving myself crazy Any guidance would be much appreciated. Thanks!

wooldogg, thank you very much for your suggestion. I didn't consider it initially because it is a two year program. However, if I can be near where I plan on ending up anyhow, it wouldn't really signify either way. Just from a brief glance at the program, it looks excellent and really interesting. My letters of reference will come from two university professors (both with the Psych. dep't.) with whom I've worked on several federal grants over the past five years. The last letter will come from my current manager who is a public high school teacher (she has an M.Ed. and runs an alternative learning center for alienated and predominantly minority youth) and an Executive Project Director of a university program. I don't know exactly what they will say, but I know they will be supportive. I hope this will be enough. narius, thanks so much for the heads-up on Stanford. I will definitely look into it. You are right, I shouldn't be such a pessimist! I will work on it, but as of now I still feel a bit inadequate. There are some things I would like to do soon to make myself a stronger candidate. Fortunately I have time to do that before I apply. Thanks so much for the direction and encouragement!!

Thanks so much, narius, for your insights and encouragement. I'm not sure that I can believe I'm a shoe-in for Brown or Rutgers (guess I'm too much of a pessimist ), but I really appreciate your point-of-view, especially given that I'm still in the early stages of finding the right programs to apply to.

I'm still in the early stages of researching programs, but preliminarily I'm interested in U of Michigan (MPA), Harvard (MPA), Princeton (MPP), Brown (MPA), Rutgers (MPAP), Syracuse (MPA), Carengie Mellon (MPM), and Georgetown (MPM). Given my stats (listed below), am I most likely aiming too high? If so, where should I be aiming? Also, I'm interested in returning home to San Francisco after I graduate preferably to work in city government there. I am also most interested in a one-year program. Thank you for your insights. Overall GPA: 3.5 Major GPA: 4.0 The first 48 units were taken in my junior and senior years of high school, which did negatively impact my GPA (each year improved, with a 4.0 my last year).2001: BA in Social Science with minor in English Literature and SociologyMultiple academic honors including: Deans List, presidential citation, summa cum laude, etc.Phi Kappa Phi and Alpha Gamma Sigma MemberExtensive volunteer work from 1995-present with various non-profits and public government including founding and directing a reading program for Pre-K and K kids and interning with a county commission on disabilities. Many service awards including congressional award medal presented to me by Congressman Farr.Nine years of professional experience mostly in administrative management largely with public universities/colleges and a non-profit.Currently I am a Program Administrator and Principal Investigator for a state university, where I manage 3-5 staff, federal, state, and private grants, and collect/analyze data on the population our project serves.I have not yet taken the GRE.

Thanks carpecc. Good to know. At this point I'm just trying to learn about programs and try to figure out where I most likely fall, but that is a bit difficult for me. I can't tell if my quals. place me in low, mid, or top range programs. I have some learning to do...

Thanks faceindreams, I'll definitely start investigating programs more in-depth now. I checked out USNWR's top 50 and there is some overlap with online programs. So if I find I need to go this route at least there are some decent schools. At this point, I'm trying to find where I will fit in as far as admissions goes. It'd be nice to see the stats of incoming classes. Anybody know of anything like that? I know stats don't give the whole picture, but just an idea of where I might fall would be nice. For example, I have no idea if University of Colorado Denver's MPA program would be a reach for me or not... Thanks again!

fadeindreams, thanks for your point of view. That's fantastic you were admitted to a program you're excited about. It's a shame that funding hasn't come through. It does give me something to think about as far as funding goes. Since I'm making a decent income now, I know that an MPA will not significantly raise my salary in my present position or a new one. Therefore, I'm not willing to spend a ton on the degree, but I am interested in an MPA for reasons beyond income, of course. Overall, I would rather go to a reasonably-priced, good program than an expensive, outstanding program. I'm not sure why, but I am a little hesitant to enroll in an online program. I have heard good things about UNC, however. Plus, it would make sense for me to stay in my present position while earning an MPA. Do you think there any good online or low residency programs?

carpecc, thank you for suggestions. You are correct-- I definitely want to focus on domestic issues. I am currently in Hawaii and plan on continuing my career here, at least for the next five to ten years. If I were to move it would be to San Francisco. In my initial research I've become a little familiar with UNC's program. I believe there is an online option, as well, yes? Do you think their online option is a good one? I feel my overall GPA is on the low side. Do you think that selection committees would take into account that the first 48 units were taken while I was still in high school? My grades continued to improve and I had a 4.0 in my last 45 units. I'm sure a strong GRE score would help back that up, but as I haven't taken it yet, I can't say what scores I would be able to submit. With the stats I provided, what do you feel my chances are for first tier programs, second tier, etc.? Thanks again!!

I thought I'd get your opinion in a rather backwards way. I don't have a particular program in mind yet. I would say that I'm inclined to enroll in an MPA program, but I'm open to suggestions here as well. Given my stats below and my interests/goals, what programs do you think would be a good fit. Undergraduate institution: Standard state school in Colorado Undergraduate GPA: 3.5 (First 48 units were completed during my Jr. and Sr. years of high school, which affected my GPA negatively) Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): 3.78 Undergraduate Major: Social Science/English GRE: Haven't taken yet LORs: Most likely from university professors and/or DOE administrators I've worked with for the past five+ years. Years Out of Undergrad: 9 Years of Work Experience:9 Describe Relevant Work Experience: Currently mid-manager (program administrator) for State (joint project of state university and DOE) where state and federal grant funds are funneled. Previously was in administrative management for non-profit. Career Goals: I'd like to continue along the same lines of my current position with increased responsibility within the State. Some of my interest in obtaining an MPA is increased competitiveness and greater stability within my field.